Car construction



Sept. 23, 1930. o. c. DURYEA CAR CONSTRUCTION 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed July12, 1928 v i l'nvsurae Sept. 23, 1930. o. c. DURYEA CAR CONSTRUCTIQNFiled July 12, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented se azs, 1930 UNITED:STATES PATENT OFFICE OTHO G. DUBYE J OF WATERBURYGONNECTICUT, ASSTGNOB T0. 0. DUB! 00B- PORATION, OI WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION 01'DELAWARE CAR CONSTRUCTION Application filed July 12,

This invention relates to railway cars, and more particularly to a carof the type embodying a draft and bailing member extending substantiallythe lengthof the car structure and mounted for" longitudinal movementrelative thereto.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a railway carof theabove character embodying novel means-for cushioning or absorbingdraft and buflingforces, im parted to the car structure, whereby damageto said structure and its lading isprevented.

Another object is to provide novel cushioning means of long travel,whereby high'pressures are avoided, in combination with means formaintaining. the train slack within suitable or desired limitsirrespective of the travel of the cushioning means.

A further object is to provide shock absorbing means. for railway carsof the'above character. which are so constituted that the necessity foremploying a housing of the usual type is rendered unnecessary.

Another object is to provide a car having a rigid draft and bailingcolumn or center member extending substantially the length of the carstructure and mounted for longitudinal movement. in both directions,relative thereto, in combination with novel energy dissip-atin; meansfor resisting relative movement of the member or column.

A. further object is to provide novel cushion means for absorbing draftand bufling forces. said means embodying friction ele ments and meansfor positively releasing the friction elements in the event of stickingor seizing. The above and other objects will appear more fully hereafterin the detailed description of the invention.

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that thedrawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as adefinition of the limits of the invention, reference being 1928. SerialNo. 292,076.

had to the appended claims for this pur ose. In the drawings, whereinlike reference 0 aracters refer to like parts throughout theseveralviews,-'-

Figs. 1 and 1 constitute a top plan sectional view, with parts brokenaway, of a portion of one end of the car structure embodying the presentinvention;

Fig. 2 is a detail, sectional side elevation of the structure shown inFig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a side view illustrating one form of wedge member which may beemployed in accordance with the present invention.

In the form illustrated, the car structure embodying the presentinvention is of the box car type but it is to be expressly understoodthat the invention is not limited to cars of this character. In order toemploy large scale drawings, a portion only of one end of the car isshown, the opposite end being similarly constructed.

As will be understood by those skilledin the art, the car structure isadapted to be mounted on suitable trucks by means of center plates (notshown) secured in the usual or any suitable manner to the body bolsters,which latter may be of the built-up type and may include bottom coverplates, one of which is shown at 4 in Fig. 2.

The bottom cover plate 4 is provided with a center pin opening 5 whichregisters with a similar opening provided in a center brace 6, thecenterbrace being positioned between the lower coverplate 4 and an uppercover plate 7. The bolster is provided with two openings 8 on theopposite sides of'the center brace 6.

The structure also includes side sills '(not shown) secured to endsills, a portion of one of the latter being shown at 9 in Fig. 1.Preferably, theend sills are braced against defleeting forces by meansof torquev members, one of which is shown at 10 withits outer endconnected to the end sill and its inner end attached to the bodybolster. Torque members 10 also constitute floor supports.

A suitable number of cross-bearers, a portion of one of which is shownat 11, are provided intermediate the body bolsters. As shown, each ofthe cross-bearers is provided with two openings 12 which register withthe openings 8 in the body bolster. The crossbearer 11 may be connectedto the body bolster by means of flanged members 13 which constitutesupports for the flooring 14 of the car. The lower inner ends of thesupportlng members 13 are preferably connected to the outerfacc ofcross-bearer 11 as by means of gusset plates 15. Two vertically disposedangles 16 may be secured to the outer face of cross-bearer 11, closelyadjacent the inner edges of openings 12 therein, to strengthen thecross-bearer and to provide supporting means for bearing members 17. Thelatter are preferably constituted by castings and are mounted with theupper faces of the same slightly above the lower edges of the openings12. If desired, rivets may be employed for securing bearing members 17to the gusset plates 15. Secured to the inner face of cross-bearer 11,immediately above and below the openings 12, are horizontally disposedangles 18 and 19 that serve to further brace the cross-bearer adjacentthe openings therein.

Extending substantially the length of the car structure and passingfreely through the openings 8 in the body bolster and the open ings 12in the cross-bearer, is a center member. or draft and bufiing beam, thatis mounted for longitudinal movement in both directions, from a normalposition, relative to the car structure. While various types of rolledmembers may be used, the center member is preferably constituted by twovertically disposed channels 20 which are rigidly connected together ata plurality of points in a manner to be described more fully hereafter.The lower flanges of channels 20 have sliding engagement with the bodybolster and bearing members 17 provided on the cross-bearers.- Thecenter member is guided against lateral movement by the center brace 6and angles 16.

Train slack means are provided and preferably the same are soconstructed that the train slack is materially less than that nowconsidered as standard. As shown, a striking plate casting 21 is rigidlysecured to the outer end of the channels 20 and centrally through theopening in said striking plate extends theshank of a coupler 22. Thecoupler shank is provided with the usual key slot 23 through whichextends a key 24, the outer ends of which project through suitableopenings 25 in the channels 20. Riveted or otherwise rigidly connectedto the inner faces of the webs of channels 20 are draft lugs 26 whichare also provided with key openings 27 that register with openings 25 inthe channels.

Cast integrally with the draft lugs is a casting.

draft lugs and is held in engagement with theinner end of the couplershank by spring 29. By this arrangement the inner wall of slot 23 in thecoupler shank is yieldingly held in engagement with the inner edge ofkey 24 while the outer edge of the key is normally held in engagementwith the walls of the outer ends of key openings 25, 27.

When a draft force is applied to the coupler 22 the same cannot moverelatively to draft lugs 26. When a buffing force is imparted to coupler22 it moves inwardly relative to the draft lugs, against the tension ofspring 29,

until the key goes ,solid on the inner abutments of the draft lugs.Simultaneously. follower 33 goes solid on the inner wall of the followerrecess or pocket. The slot 23 in the coupler shank is greater in lengththan the width of key 24 to permit angling of the coupler. As will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, the coupler may be associatedwith the center member in such a manner as to be movable in bothdirections from a normal position, if desired. but the slack ispreferably maintained small to avoid the many objectionable featuresarising from the large amount of train slack obtained when draft gearsof the type now in use are employed.

Cushioning means are provided for yieldingly resisting movement of thecenter member relative to the body bolsters, and preferably said meansare adapted for long travel, whereby high pressures, resulting from theapplication of draft and bufiing forces to the car structure, areavoided and damage to the car and its lading is prevented.

In the form illustrated, the cushioning means comprise a pair of wedges34 which are rigidly secured in any suitable manner,

as by means of rivets 35. to the inner faces of the webs of channels 20at a convenient distance, inwardly. from the inner face of the bodybolster. Each of the two inclined faces of the wedges engages avertically disposed friction shoe that is triangular in cross-section,the outer and inner shoes being designated 36 and 37 respectively. Theinner faces of each pair of shoes 36. 37 have sliding engagement with alongitudinally disposed friction member 38, that may be formed as a Thetwo friction surfaces of member 38 taper from the centers thereof,outwardly, toward the opposite ends of the'same.

The outer end of member 38 is pivotally connected, as by means of avertically disposed pin 39, to a pair of horizontal ears or lugs 40 thatare secured to and project inwardly from the inner face of the bolster.As shown, ears 40 are cast integrally with the center brace 6 and extendbetween similar ears 41 formed on the friction member. Pin 39 may beretained in position by means of a cotter 42 extending through said pinand the lowermost car 41.

The friction member 38, which extends from'the center brace inwardlybeyond the wedges 34, and which may be substantially rectangular incross-section, is provided centrally thereof with a longitudinallydisposed opening and slidably mounted therein is a yoke member 43 which,in the form shown. is constituted by a rod-shaped member. The outer endof yoke member 43 is slotted to receive a l'iorizontally disposed key 44that moves in a slot 45 provided in friction member 38. Key 44 ispreferably provided, on its outer edge, with a notch 44 that is engagedby yoke member or rod 43 to retain the key in operative position.

'A spring 46, which is operatively mounted on the inner end of rod 43,coacts with the friction elements, described above, to resist relativemovement of the draft and butting beam. .The. inner end of spring 46abuts against a follower 47 slidably mounted on red 43 and retained inbperative position thereon by means of akey 48 that extends through asuitable slot adjacent the end of said rod. Bucklingof spring 46 may beprevented by suitable means such as fins 49 provided on rod 43.

The outer end of spring 46 engages a boxshaped follower 50 that isslidably mounted on the inner end of member 38. ,The outer ends of thevertical sides of follower 50 are normally in abutting engagement withthe inner pair of friction shoes 37, while the bottom of the box-shapedfollower '50 normally abuts against the inner end of friction member 38.The lower side'of follower 50 is preferably provided on its outer endwith an outwardly extending lip 51 for a purpose to be describedhereafter.

Means are provided for releasing shoes 36,

37 in the event the latter should adhere to the friction member 38,'andfor maintaining said shoes at alltimes in operative relation with't'ion,. are laterally spaced from the adjacent per surface of tie plate55 and both plates coact to rigidly connect and bracethe channels 20.Additional tie plates 56, 57 are preferably' rovided for channels 20intermediate the en sill 9 and the body bolster.

Means are provided for positively limiting movement of the draft andballing beam or v center member 20, 20 relative to the body bolster. Forthis purpose the outer ends of tie plates 54, 55 are provided withstrengthening plates or webs 58, 59," respectively, which are adapted toengage the inner face of the body bolster, whereby relative movement ofthe. center member is positively limited in one direction. The. tieplates 56, 57 are strengthened at their inner ends-by means of plates 60and 61 and the inner edges of said plates are adaptedto engage the adjacent face of the body bolster and thereby poz-itively limit relativemovement of the center member tothe left. as viewed in Fig. 1".

ln assen' bling the cushioning; means the wedges 34 are first attachedto the inner faces, of the webs of the channels and therca fter thespring 46, yoke member 43 and friction member 38, assembled'as a unit,are operatively connected to 'the bolster. Preferably. the parts areassembled with spring 46 under compression. To facilitate assembly ofthe .frictionshoes shims may be placed betwe n th" follower 50 and theend of the member 38.

and also between the inner edge of key 44 and the end wall of slot 45formed in the friction member 38. In order to position th latter shimsin place the lower wall of the member 38 may be provided with a pair ofopenings 62. Due to the width of key it difliculty would be encounteredin assembling the cushioning unit in the manner described. andto avoidthis difficulty the wedges 3-1 are provided centrally of the inner facesthereof with slots 63 (Fig. 3) to permit the pas age of key 44. Afterthe unit has been attached to center brace 6 by the pin 39. the shoes36, 37 may be placed between the friction member and the inclined facesof wedges fl-l and thereafter the upper tie plate 54 can be riveted orotherwise suitably secured in position, the tie plate 55 havingpreviously been secured to the channels 20. The shims will fall bygravity onto the tie plate after the cushioning means have been actuatedto resist relative movement of the center member. Normally, the partsoccupy the position illustrated in the drawings with key 44 bearing atits inner edge against shoes 36 and also against the inner end wall ofslot spring 46 serving to maintain said key in this position with shoes36 in engagen'ient with the ad- 'jacent inclined faces of wedges 34. Theinner shoes 37 are maintained in engagement with the adjacent inclinedfaces of wedges 34 due to the engagement therewith of follower 50 whichis maintained by spring 46 in engagement with the inner end of thefriction member 33.

If a draft force applied to coupler 22 the same moves to the rightrelative to the body bolster, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 1*, rarryingtherewith the center member 20 and the wedges 34. The outer shoes 36 areforced to the right along the diverging walls of the friction member andthe friction thereby developed is effective to yieldingly resist therelative movement of said center member.

The engagement of shoes 36 with member 38 is ineffective to move thelatter to the right, due to its connection with the body bolster.

Shoes 36 are effective to move key 34 to the against movement byengagement. of follower with friction member 38. Shoes 37 do notgenerate friction at this time but are maintained in operative relationwith -the friction wedges by the lugs 53 which pick up said shoes afterthe wedges have moved a short distance. The friction shoes 36 and spring46 thus yieldingly absorb the draft force and due to the long travel ofthe same high pressures are avoided, as. well as damage to the carstructurev and its lading.

When the draft force has been expended the partsare returned to normalposition by spring 46. If shoes 36 seize on the friction member 38, lugs52 are effective to positively disengage the shoes and return the sameto normal position. In the event the draft force is excessive the stops58. 54, and 59 move into engagement with the inner face of the bolsterand positively limit relative movement of the center member.

If a bufling force is impartedto coupler 22 the latter moves to theleft, as viewed in Fig. 1, against the tension of spring 29 until theouter end wall of slot 23 bottoms on the outer edge of key 24, whereuponkey 24 is moved to the left to engage the inner abutments of the draftlugs. Simultaneously, follower 33 goes solid against the adjacent end ofpocket .28. The buffing force is now effective: to move the centermember to the left relative to the body bolster. Wedges 34 force theshoes 37 to the left along the diverging faces of friction member 38 andears 52 engage and carry along therewith the friction shoes 36, butmovement of rod 43 to the left is prevented by the engagement of key 44with the wall of the inner end of slot 45. Since shoes 37 force thefollower 50 to the left, spring 46 compressed and coacts with thefriction shoes 37 to yieldingly resist relative movement of the centermember. If the bufiiing force is sufficiently great, stops 56, 60, 57and 61 go solid against the outer face of the bolster and positivelylimit relative movement of the center member. In the event that shoes 37adhere to the friction member lugs 53 will disengage said shoes when theparts are returned to normal position by spring 46. If the relativemovement of the parts is such that shoes- 37 move approximately to theinner end of friction member 38, the curved lip 51 prevents downwardmovement of said inner end of the friction member and prevents jammingor locking of the parts, which might result if the end of the lower wallof follower 50 should engage the inner end of the friction member.

Preferably, cushioning means are associated with each of the car bodybolsters and itwill be understood that when theelements of thecushioning means shown in Fig. 1 move in a manner described above, dueto the action of a draft force,'the elements of the cushioning means atthe opposite end of the car move as if a butting force were appliedthereto. The two cushioning means thus coact to yieldingly resistrelative movement of the center member in both directions.

There is thus provided a car structure embodying novel means forcushioning the draft and bufiingforces, said means being adapted forlong travel whereby damage to the car and its lading isprevented. Thetrain slack is independent of the travel of the cushioning means.Preferably, the train slack is maintained very low, the travel of thecushioning means being several times greater than the travel of thecoupler relative to the center member. The objectionable bellows efiectpresent in trains now in operation is avoided by the use of the presentinvention and the cushioning means or energy dissipating means may be ofmuch greater capacity and lower pressures than now provided. Theelements of the cushioning means may be reversed so that the divergingfaces of the friction member 38 are secured to and movable with thecenter member, while the wedges are centrally disposed and operativelyconnected to the body bolster. The members 13 support the flooring andprevent deflection of the cross-bearers. A large bearing surface isprovided for the center member in the plane of the cross-bearers by themembers 17. The cushioning means are adapted to be assembled as a unitafter wedges 34 have been socured in operative position and after one ofthe tie plates 54 or 55 is attached to the center member. The use of themechanism illustrated avoids the necessity for the usual frictionhousing/thereby eliminating weight and insuring cheapness ofmanufacture. It will be understood that the travel of the cushioningmeans may be varied and that the spring 46 may be employed with aninitial compression or not, as desired.

While only one embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood that various changes may be made in thedetails of the structure and in the arrangement of parts, as will nowreadily occur to those skilled in the art. Reference will therefore behad to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of theinvention.

'hat is claimed is 1. In a car structure of the type embodying a draftand balling member extending substantially the length of the carstructure and mounted for movement relative thereto, cushioning means oflong travel for resisting relative movement of said member includingwedges carried by the member, a plurality of friction shoes havingengagement with said wedges, a friction member secured to said structureand having engagement with said friction shoes, a rod slidably mountedin said friction member, and resilient means arried by said rod andadapted to coact with said friction shoes and wedges to yieldinglyresist relative movement of the center member.

2. In a car structure, a body bolster, a center member extendingsubstantially the length of the structure and mounted for movementrelative to the bolster, wedges secured to the center member, a frictionmember pinned to the body bolster, friction shoes having engagement withsaid friction member and certain of said wedges, resilient meansincluding a rod slidable in said friction member, and train slack meansconnected to the center member.

3. In a car structure, a body bolster, a center member mounted formovement relative to the body bolster and extending substantially thelength of the structure, and means for resisting relative movement ofthe center member including a friction member having tapering facesattached to said bolster, friction elements engaging said taperingfaces, means secured to the center member for moving said elementsrelative to said member, and resilient means for resisting movement ofsaid elements relative to said friction members.

at. In a car structure, a body bolster, a rigid draft and bufiing columnextending substantially the length of the structure and mounted formovement relative to said bolster, wedges rigidly secured to saidcolumn, said wedges having inclined faces and lugs adjacent thereto,friction shoes cngaging the inclined faces of the wedges, a centerfriction member secured to the bolster and adapted to be engaged by saidWedegs, said lugs being adapted to move said shoes in one directionrelative to said friction member, and resilient 1;;cans for normallyholding said shoes in engagement with said wedges.

In a air structure of the type embodying bolsters and cross-bearershavmg openings therethrough, a rigid center member extendiugsubstantially the length of the structure and mounted for movement insaid openings, couplers movably connected to the opposite ends of thecenter member, and means for resist-ing movement of the center memberrelative to said bolster including a friction member pinned to thebolster, shoes having engagement with the friction member, wedgessecured to the center member and having engagement with said shoes, andmeans for releasingsaid shoes in the event that the same seize thefriction member.

6. ln :1 car structure, a body bolster, a rigid center'member extendingsubstantially the length of the structure and mounted for movementrelative to said bolster, train slack means including a coupler keyed tosaid center member, means for resisting relative movement of the centermember including friction and resilientelements, and means secured tothe center member and having engagement with said friction elements forpositively releasing the friction elementsin the event of seizure of thesame.

7. Cushioning means of the character described comprising a pair ofwedges, friction shoes engaging said wedges and movable thereby, afriction member having engagement with said shoes, a rod slidablyextending through said friction member, a coil spring surrounding a.portion of said rod, a follower interposed between said spring and saidfriction member, a key for preventing movement of the rod in onedirection relative to the friction member, means including a key formaintaining said spring in operative relation with said rod, and meansfor positively releasing said shoes in the event that the same adhere tosaid friction member.

8. In a car structure, a body bolster having openings therethrough, arigid center member constituted by channels extending through saidopenings and mounted for movement relative to said body bolster, andlong travel yielding means for resisting relative movement between thecenter member and said bolster, said yielding means including wedgessecured to said channels, shoes having engagement with said wedges, shoelugs carried by the Wedges and normally out ofen- 115 gagement with saidshoes, a friction member attached to said bolster and engaged by saidshoes, a coil spring, and means for operatively connecting said coilspring, friction member and shoes.

9. In a car structure, a body bolster, a center member constituted bychannels extending substantially the length of the structure and mountedfor movement relative to said bolster, wedges secured to the webs ofsaid channels, means including friction elements having operativeengagement with said Wedges for yieldin ly resisting movement of thecenter mem er relative to said body bolsters, and cover plates securedto 133 extending intermediate said wedges, said friction member beingattached to said bolster, a follower normally engaging one end of thefriction member, resilient means for engagement with said follower, andmeans for operatively connecting said resilient means with said member,said tie plates being adapted to engage said bolster to positively limitrelative movement of the channel.

11. In a car structure of the type embodying a center draft and buffingmember extending substantially the length of the structure and mountedfor movement relative to the car body bolsters, cushioning means forresisting movement of said center member relative to said bolstersincluding a friction member having tapered surfaces secured to one ofsaid bolsters, friction elements having engagement with said surfaces,means for moving said elements on portions of said surfaces when a draftforce is applied to the mrasia shoes in engagement with the surfaces ofsaid friction member, means operative under draft for moving certain ofsaid shoes along the diverging surfaces of said friction memher, andmeans operative under buff for moving certain of said friction shoesalong other portions of the diverging surfaces of said friction member.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification.

OTHO C. DURYEA.

center member, and means for moving said n elements or other portions ofsaid surfaces when a bufling force is applied to the center member. Y

12. In a car structure of the type provided with body bolsters and acenter draft and bufing member extending substantially the length of thestructure and mounted for movement relative to the bolsters, cushioningmeans for resisting relative movement of the center member including afriction member having surfaces which taper outwardly from the centralportion of the same, friction shoes having engagement with said taperedsurfaces, means for moving certain of said shoes along one portion ofthe tapered surfaces, means for moving the other shoes along the otherportion of the tapered surfaces, and yielding means adapted to coactwith said friction members to resist movement of the center memberrelative to the bolsters.

13. In a car structure of the type provided with body bolsters and acenter draft and bufling member extending substantially the length ofthe structure and mounted for movement relative to said bolsters,cushionmg means for resistmg relative movement of the center memberincluding a friction member provided with diverging-surfaces secured toone of said body bolsters, friction

